Venomous Spite

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 697, 13 October 1909, Page 6

Venomous Spite

PRIME MINISTER OUTSPOKEN At a social tenderer! to Sir Joseph Wan! last week by the Wellington Women's Social and Political League, the Prime Minister referred to the demonstration which took placo outside Parliament House, prior to the closing of the last short session. Sir Joseph Ward, looking back upon the much then made upon Parliament, siid it was suggested by a gentleman, usually courteous, who seemed on ihat occasion to have lost his head. His extraordinary conduct was regrettable, and it was altogether an event to be ashamed of. We were a progressive people, and the Government party on the side of progress always found Reactionaries, making excuses of vnious kinds. When they could not find the cause and their case was weak they indulged in the familiar method of abusing the other side. The Government would submit to Parliament in the course of a few days important legislation ou the side of progress, and with the assistance of their party, irrespective of abuse aDd unkind innuendo, put upon record that which was in the interests of the country as a whole. If they had to touch interests which did not like it, then so long as the Government did their duty to the people they could be indifferent to those taking offence. Criticism was not feared. The Government did not care so long as it was equitable and just, but they were indifferent to that criticism which was prompted by venomous spite. When one found a " Booh ! " emanating from the upper structure of an individual because there was not a sufficiency of anything else to take its place, it could only be regarded as one of the little incidents which, while they were to be regretted, did to harm to the person at which they were aimed. Sensible people in the c immunity had no time for what was intended as' a substitute for argument or reasoning. He had never known anythiug in politics got by the wild-eyed, empty expression of " Boohing."—(Hear, hear).